Good Times Magazine, March 2002
30 Years in the Business and Counting - Tempo and Time with Studio Owner Jim Sabella
by Peter Sorkin
Good Times

If for some reason you can avert your eyes from the vintage tube compressors and equalizers built into the control room at Sabella Recording Studios and manage to work your way downstairs to the lounge, you will find one of the more interesting quotes describing recording hanging on the bathroom wall. "Most people don't know what a band is," the first line reads. "The musicians are there to contribute to the band's sound. The band isn't there for showing off solos or egos. A lick on a record - it doesn't matter who played it. All that matters is how it fits." According to Jim Sabella, owner and proprietor of Sabella Recording Studios in Roslyn Heights,that particular Keith Richards quote should be reprinted in all instruction manuals accompanying any home recording equipment bought and sold in the United States. "These days bands can buy some home studio the size of a computer and do it themselves," says Sabella, as he adjusts the Flying Faders on his Neve 8068. "Digital workstations are a great starting point because they help composers and songwriters get their music documented. But when they need to graduate to the next level or if ever a record deal proposal falls into their laps - that's another story. Playing ability is important, but sound quality is crucial and some of these bands have never even played on a real amp before or seen a real analog console because music stores sell them on plug-ins." The classically trained guitarist was lured to the sounds of early rock and roll as a teenager, and has just recently celebrated more than 30 years in the recording industry. Sabella says a good recording is timeless, but in recent years, the ease at which young bands can record demos on digital gear has greatly compromised the quality. "I can't tell you how many bands I have seen that have come to me after spending money to record a demo and are surprised to find that their finished product sounds like nothing more than just a demo," Sabella says."Reproducing the energy of four guys in a Rock n' Roll band can be difficult when all that is required of the musician is to plug his instrument into a computer on their desk and play the notes." Sabella says his unique approach in combining digital platforms like ProTools and Cubase with his collection of analog and vintage tube gear, has created a signature sound as well as a reputation for his musical production value. Mike Mallamo, 26, lead singer for Long Island based band Dearly Departed has recorded at Sabella Recording Studios on four separate occasions. He says Jim's experience and understanding is immeasurable. "Jim has a really great ability to adjust to whatever type of music your band happens to be playing," Mallamo says. "I really didn't know anything about recording until I came here, but Jim really knows what kind of recording the music needs to make it all come together. He does what every good producer and engineer should do well, he listens to you." "I have been a musician all my life and I have been listening to music all my life," Sabella says. "But most importantly, I know what a good Rock 'N Roll product should sound like." Scott Rhodes, who plays guitar for Grey Matters, says Sabella's knowledge of recording complemented his vision. "Jim gave me all I needed to produce a great recording," Rhodes says. "His studio has everything I could've asked for and he really made our songs shine." Sabella, who worked as a sessionman throughout the 1970's and was signed to a major label recording contract in 1980, says working with young bands for more than three decades has allowed him to better help bands produce the sounds they have been looking for, or more accurately, heard. "We like to work with young bands because their enthusiasm is infective, "Sabella says. "Besides, it is always good to have an outside ear to listen to your music. That way, you can extract the ideas out of them, not tell them what to play and it's is a lot more fun for both me and them when their songs exceed what they even expected to hear." Lorenzo Famiglietti, the engineer at Sabella Recording Studios says each day in the studio represents a new challenge. "Experimenting to find a new guitar sound, re-working an arrangement or seeing the look on some kid's face when he or she first hears the sound of vintage tube gear is very satisfying," Famiglietti says. "What Jim and I try to do here is to work not just for these bands, but with them as well. It's their music and their ideas that we are trying to bring to the forefront. Our experience and their energy really helps in that process." "Analog recording has been around for more than 60 years," Sabella says."Digital recording is still in its infancy. But everybody is in such a rush these days. A good recording takes time and effort. These digital replications are copies of the originals. I have those originals and I assure you no one on Long Island can compete with my equipment." Easing back into his chair, Sabella presses the record button on his Studer A80. "You wouldn't want to settle for a cup of instant coffee when you have the time to brew a real cup," he says. "It may cost a bit more to get the best possible sound for your money, but no serious band should settle for anything less."